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Made of Honor —The whole point of a romantic comedy is the comfort of the ritual—the familiarity of it all, as if you’re wrapping yourself in a warm, snugly blanket of knowledge that the two attractive, charming leads will surely end up with each other in the end. The outcome is never in doubt, despite the various contrived obstacles that pop up along the way. This is especially true of “Made of Honor,” because it’s pretty much a remake of a movie you’ve already seen: 1997’s “My Best Friend’s Wedding.” The only difference is a reversal in gender roles—so daring! This time, Patrick Dempsey plays the one who realizes he’s in love with his best friend (Michelle Monaghan), and when she announces she’s getting married, he tries to undermine the wedding from the inside. Because, you see, she’s asked him to be her “maid of honor.” The title is a pun, get it? Dempsey and Monaghan have a likable screen presence individually and together, which makes the movie from British director Paul Weiland (“City Slickers II—The Legend of Curly’s Gold”; enough said) vaguely tolerable for a little while. PG-13 for sexual content and language. 101 min. One and a half stars out of four.—Christy Lemire



Forgetting Sarah Marshall —So perhaps the rumors of Judd Apatow’s demise were greatly exaggerated. Following the disappointing performance of “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” and the flop that was “Drillbit Taylor,” Apatow is back in classic form with his latest producing effort. This is yet another crowd-pleasing comedy that will make you laugh and squirm the whole way through—usually at the same time—with just the right balance of the salty and the sweet. It also signals an introduction of sorts to a couple of engaging talents. Jason Segel, co-star of Apatow’s “Knocked Up” and the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother,” settles comfortably into his first screenplay and first leading role as a big, likable puppy dog of a guy who gets dumped by his glamorous TV-star girlfriend, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). And then there’s Russell Brand, a British comic who will probably be new to American audiences, but not for long. R for sexual content, language and some graphic nudity. 111 min. Three stars out of four.—Christy Lemire,